Ribbon-feed mechanism for type-writers.



No. 63!,4l3.

Patented Aug. 22, I899. C. SPIRO.

RIBBON FEED MECHANISM FDR TYPE WRITERS.

(No M d L) (Application filed Jan. 31, 1899.) 2 sh t sh t awn e/wto'c wm o 07202195 67937 0,

Patented Au 22, I899.

c. S PIRD. RIB BUN FEED MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

(Application filed Jan. 31, 1899.)

2 S heets-Sheet 2,

(N0 Mode-l.)

l'lw 37x70,

' UNTT D STATES;

PATENT rricixei CHARLES SPIRO, on NEW YORK, N. Y;

ldIBBON-FEED MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITERS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,413, dated. Au ust 22, 1899.

Application filed January 31; 1899. Serial No. 704,056. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES SPIRO, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Wri-ter Ribbon-Feed Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings This invention relates to improvements in type-writers, and particularly to mechanism for automatically actuating alternately the spools carrying the ribbon, whereby the same will be fed in opposite directions in the use of the machine.

The invention has forits object to provide means for automatically and positively shifting the driving mechanism of the ribbonspools, means for holding such driving mechanism in operative relation to the driven spool until it is filled with ribbon drawn from the non-driven spool, and means for releasing the latches and reversing the direction of feed of the ribbon byhand at any time regardless of the amount of ribbon on either spool.

It has for a further object to provide a ribbon-following brake-lever adapted to exert a constant tension upon the ribbon, retain the spool in position on its spindle, and to actuate the'driving-mechanism-shifting devices.

Other objects and advantages and novel details of construction producing improved results in a machine of this character will be described in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through a type-Writing machine embodying my invention. Fig.2 is a rear elevation of the ribbon-feed-shifting mechanism. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same with one of the ribbon-spools removed. Fig. 4 is a plan showin g the ribbon-guides in dotted lines, and Fig. dis a detail section of a specificform of pivot.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawings.

A designates the frame of a type-writing machine, which may be of any desired character and in the present instance is illustrated as provided with pivoted key-levers A and a pivotally-mounted universal bail A having a vertically-extending ribbon-carrier B, which projects at opposite sides of the bar' lock mechanism 0, provided with pins C. The upper end of the oscillating ribbon-car= rier B is provided with suitable horizontal guide-plates B, adapted to receive and carry the ribbon over the printing-point of the platen B, which is supported upon the movable carriage 13 as usual in this class of machines. The several type-bars A are'suitably mounted upon the machine and operatively connected, as at A with the key-levers A to operate in the usual manner.

The ribbon-feed-shifting mechanism is mounted upon a frame or standard D secured to or it may be formed as a part of the main frame of the machine, and at the upper portion of the standard D the bar-lock C is suitably mounted. From opposite sides of the standard D extend spindles or journals D for the ribbon-spools D The periphery of each head of each of the spools is provided with suitable gear-teeth D adapted to be engaged by a driving-pinion D One head of each spool provided with such teeth is sufficient; but where both heads are thus formed no particular attention is required in placing the spools, as either head of either spool will present gear-teeth for cooperation with said pinion. The pinions D are rigidly secured to a shaft D rotatably mounted in ashifting plate E, and said shaft is rotated by a pawl B projecting from the oscillating ribbon-carrier B and held in yielding contact with a ratchet D on shaft D by means of a suitable spring B as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The shifting plate E is provided with a detent-pawl E to prevent backward movement of the ratchet D", and is at its upper portion or head E provided with a locking-notch E adapted to receive a latch or latches, as hereinafter described, so that either pinion D may be brought to and held in mesh with either spool, whereby either spool may act as a winding or reversing spool and the direction of feed of the ribbon reversed, as desired.

The plate E is shifted and locked in a shifted position by means of a lever F,'provided with an angular extension F, having a depending hook or latch F adapted to seat in the recess E of said plate. The lever F is pivotally mounted upon a suitable stud F and is provided with a shifting extension or arm F at its lower portion, which is adapted to engage a part E of the shifting plate E at one side of the pivot E The arm F is provided with a projection or lug F which is engaged and operated by an arm H, extending from a brake or lever H, to lift the latch from the recess E The angle-lever G is pivot-ally mounted upon the stud F and independently of the latch F, mounted on said stud. The arm G of said lever is constantly but yieldingly forced upward by means of a spring G extending from a point on its arm G at one side of its pivot to any adjacent fixed part of the n1echanism-for example, the spool-spindle D. The pivot.- or stud F upon which the latch and angle-lever are both mounted may be of any desired form; but better results are secured by the particular construction illustrated in detail in Fig. 5, which prevents frictional contact of said pivoted members with each other. The portion of the stud F upon which the lever F is mounted consists of a screw f, having a threaded shank seated in the frame D, and a body f, on which the lever oscillates. This body portion is interiorly threaded to receive a second screw f provided with a bearing surface f upon which the angle-lever G is mounted. The head of the screwfserves as a spaci ng-washer between the levers F and G, and each screwhead retains the lever in operative position. ltis obvious that any other preferred form of stud may be used; but the construction just described has been found convenient in assembling and dismounting the parts, in reducing friction between the moving parts, and providing such a space between the same that dust or particles from erasures may not lodge between the parts, and thus clog or impair their proper and prompt operation.

The contact-brake H is mounted upon a suitable spindle H projecting from the frame D below the center of the ribbon-spool, and is normally forced yieldingly toward the spindle D of the ribbon-spool by means of a coilspring H surrounding the spindle H and connected at one end to the brake H and at the other to any adjacent fixed part-in this instance to the frame D. The brake is provided with a contact-face concentric to the spindle of the spool to produce a resistance or drag tension upon the ribbon. The spring H holds the contact-brake under constant tension upon the ribbon, and therefore prevents any further rotation of the ribbon-spool than the feed given by the pawl 15 on the ratchet D thus obviating any slack in the ribbon and insuring a tight winding upon the spool and also an even and smooth feed through the ribbon-carrier. This result is aided by the drag of the companion brake upon the surface of the ribbon as it is drawn from the opposite spool. Furthermore, the

contact-brakes H rest between the flanges or heads D of the ribbon-spools, and thus retain the same in position upon their spindles D,

rendering it unnecessary to provide any other or further means for this purpose. By pressing the brake clearly away from the spool the latter can readily be removed and replaced. There are a brake H and a shifting-lever F for each spool, and each of said levers F may be oscillated by hand at their upper ends to manually shift the ribbon-feed mechanism independently of automatic shifting operations of the brakes. Thisadvantageisapparentwhen a multicolor ribbon or any other ribbon having different qualities at dilferent lengthwise sect-ions thereof is used.

The automatic shifting of the ribbon-feed is accomplished by the inward movement of the contact-brake II as the bulk of ribbon is removed from beneath the same. As the brake moves nearly toward the center of the spool the arm H thereof moves away from the arm G' of the independently-pivoted anglelever G, thus permitting the spring G which gives the necessary propelling power, to act upon said lever and throw the arm Gthereof upward into contact with the shifting plate It. In a further advance of the brake the arm H contacts with the lug F of latch-releasing arm F and lifts the hook F of the lever F out of the notch E of the shifting plate. The movement of the arm I-I away from the axis of the spool causes said arm to engage the angle-lever G and relieves the tension of the shifting-arm on the plate E.

While the hook F is moving out of the notch E the action of the spring G is checked, so that when the hook clears the notch the spring acts quickly to shift the plate E, thus insuring a meshing of the adjacent pinlon D with the geared edge of the head of the empty spool.

In hand-shifting the lever F is moved to the right, Fig. 3, causing an upward or releasing movement of the hook F and then brings the arm F against the part E" of the shifting plate, throwing it over and bringing the adjacent pinion D into mesh with the spool-head which is adjacent to that lever F which is operated. The opposite hook F drops into the notch E by gravity, thus looking the parts in the shifted position. Either lever may be thus operated at any time regardless of the amount of ribbon on either spool, while the automatic shifting is dependent upon the absence of any material amount of ribbon on the spool. This structure permits the use of substantially the entire length of the ribbon and effectually controls the feed of the same prior to the shifting operation, when it is automatically accomplished, as heretofore explained.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction of the several parts without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A ribbon mechanism comprising ribbonspools, driving mechanism therefor, a shifting device cooperating with driving means foreitherspool,independently-pivoted springpressed arms to shift said device, contactbrakes having a face concentric to the spind lc of the spool, and means for releasing said arms as said brakes approach the axis of the spool and placing said arms under tension in the movement of the brakes from the axis of the spool; substantially as specified.

2. A ribbon-feed mechanism comprising ribbon-spools, driving mechanism therefor, a shifting device cooperating with driving means for either spool, independently-pivoted spring-pressed arms to shift said device, and contact-brakes adapted in their movement from the axis of the spools to place said arms under tension and to release said arms in their movement toward the axis of the spools to permit the shifting of the actuating device by said arms; substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a ribbon-spool, of

a contact-brake continuously bearing upon the body of ribbon carried by said spool, means for exerting a yielding tension upon said brake toward the spindle of the spool, an independently-pivoted spring-pressed arm released in the movement of said brake, and a shifting plate adapted to be engaged by said arm and carrying spool-driving mechanism; substantially as specified.

. 4. The combination with a ribbon-spool, of a contact-brake lying between the heads of the spool to retain the spool in position, a shifting plate carrying ribbon-feed mechanism engaging one head of said spool, and means engaging with said plate for disengaging said feed mechanism in the movement of the brake toward the center of the spool; substantially as specified.

5. The combination of-a ribbon-spool, gearing for rotating the same, a ribbon contactbrake having an arm, a spring for normally drawing said brake toward the center of said spool, a pivoted lever having a latch, and a shifting plate having a notch to receive said latch and carrying a pinion adapted to mesh with the gearingfor rotating said spool; substantially as specified.

6. The combination with a ribbon-spool, of a ribbon contact-brake, a spring for normally drawing said brake toward the center of said spool, a lever having a latch, a shifting plate constructed to receive said latch and carrying spool-rotatin g mechanism, and an angle-lever controlled by said contact-brake and adapted to impart motion in one direction to said shifting plate; substantially as specified. I

7. The combination with a ribbon-spool, of a ribbon contact-brake provided with an arm, a spring to draw said brake toward the axis of the spool, a shifting plate provided with a driving-pinion, a lever having a latch to engage said plate and having a lifting-arm for the plate, a projection from said lever adapted to be engaged by the brake-arm to move the latch upward, and an angle-lever under tension adapted to engage said plate to shift the same and its power-conveying devices; substantially as specified.

S. A ribbon-feed mechanism comprising oppositely-located spools, driving mechanism adapted to permit the connection of said latches with said plate in the outward movement of said brakes and to release said latches and permit the shifting of the plate during the inward movement of said brakes; substantially as specified.

10. The combination with a ribbon-spool, of a shifting plate provided with driving mechanism therefor, a pivoted lever having a latch to lock said shifting plate and having a lifting-arm adapted to engage and oscillate said plate; substantially as specified.

11. The combination witha ribbon-spool, of

a shifting plate provided with driving mechanism therefor, a pivoted lever having a latch to lock said shifting plate and having a lifting-arm to engage and oscillate said plate, and means for actuating said lever; substantially as specified.

12. The combination with a ribbon-spool, of a ribbon contact-brake, a spring for normally drawing said brake toward the center of said spool, an arm carried by said brake and adapted to operate a latch, a shifting plate cooperating with said latch and carrying driving mechanism for said spool, an oscillating ribbon-carrier actuated by a universal bail, and means upon said carrier for actuating the driving mechanism carried by the shifting plate; substantially as specified.

13. The combination with a ribbon-spool, of a shifting plate provided with driving mechanism therefor, a pivoted lever having a lockin g device adapted to engage said plate, a ribbon contact-brake adapted to move said lever, and an independently-pivoted springactuated arm adapted to shift said plate when the latch is released therefrom; substantially as specified.

14:. The combination with a shifting plate supporting a shaft carrying pinions at opposite ends, of oppositely-disposed ribbonspools having gears, contact-brakes pivoted below the centers of said spools, latches at opposite sides of said shifting plate adapted to engage said plate, and means cooperating with said contact-brakes for oscillating said plate as one of the brakes approaches the axis of its ribbon-spool; substantiallyas specified.

15. The combination with a shifting plate supporting a shaft carrying gears at opposite ends, of ribbon-spools having gears, contactbrakes pivoted below the centers of said spools, levers having latches at opposite sides of said plate provided with depending hooks adapted to engage a recess in said plate, means cooperating with said contact-brakes for oscillating said plate as one of the brakes approaches the axis of its ribbon-spool and the other recedes therefrom, and angle-levers pivoted independently of said latch-lever and under spring tension to shift said plate; substantially as specified.

16. The combination with a ribbon-spool, of a shifting plate provided with driving mechanism therefor and having a latchingrecess and opposite contact portions for shifting devices, latches adapted to seat in said recess, shifting devices adapted to engage said contact portions, and means for actuating said latches; substantially as specified.

17. The combination with a ribbon-spool, of a shifting plate provided with driving mechanism therefor, a lever provided with a locking-hook, a lifting-arm and a projection, an independently-pivoted angle-lever under spring tension, a ribbon contact-brake provided with a rock-arm adapted to engage one arm of said angle-lever in its movement away from the axis of the spool and to engage said projection in its movement toward the axis of the spool, and means for normally drawing said contact-brake toward the axis of the spool; substantially as specified.

18. I11 a ribbon-feed-shifting mechanism, the combination with means for rotating either spool, of a lever having a shifting-arm and a locking-arm each arm being adapted to engage said means; substantially as specified.

19. In a ribbon-feed-shifting mechanism, a pivoted lever having a shifting-arm and a locking-arm in combination with a shifting plate adapted to be engaged by each arm to connect either spool of a pair with rotating mechanism; substantially as specified.

20. In a ribbon-fced-shifting mechanism, 1 the combination with a pair of spools, means prising a primary stud and a secondary stud mounted thereon, a lever pivoted upon said primarystud and havinga shifting and a locking arm, an independent spring-actuated shifting-lever upon said secondary stud, and means for controlling the movement of said levers; substantially as specified.

23. In a ribbon-feed-shifting mechanism, the combination with a ribbon-spool having gear-teeth formed in the periphery of'one of its heads, of means for rotating said spool provided with a gear meshing with said head, a pivoted lever provided with a shifting and a locking arm, an independent spring-actuated shifting-lever, and means for controlling the movement of said levers; substantially as i specified.

24. A shifting plate for ribbon-feed mechanism having means for operativelysupporting a gear-shaft, a recess for plate-locking de- 1 vices, and portions for the coaction of plateshifting devices ribbon-holders cooperating 1 with said gear-shaft, and means for shifting 1 said plate; substantially as specified.

substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES SPIRO. Witnesses:

J. ROSENTHAL, M. P. CONIGAN. 

